Hyaluronan (HA) is a molecule found in the central nervous system (CNS) that is degraded by a PH20 hyaluronidase. HA’s degradation products inhibit the maturation of myelin-forming oligodendrcyte progenerator cells (OPCs), thereby slowing the repair of damaged myelin. This condition is a major factor in the disease multiple sclerosis. Inhibition of the PH20 hyaluronidase has been shown to stimulate the maturation of OPCs in the CNS. The plant flavonoid apigenin was shown to inhibit the PH20 hyaluronidase and shows potential for treating nerve disorders. We hypothesize that other plant flavonoids may show even greater activity against the PH20 hyaluronidase. Partially purified extracts that inhibited the PH20 hyaluronidase were assayed in cell cultures and analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Three extracts increased the differentiation of OPCs compared to a blank in the cell culture assay. Further purification of these extracts, and exploration of others could help elucidate potent PH20 inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Anti-hyaluronidase activity of various methanolic plant extracts and implications in neurodegenerative repair

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.